Liam Whelan

Infobox Football biography
playername = Liam Whelan


fullname = William Augustine Whelan
dateofbirth = birth date|1935|4|1|df=y
cityofbirth = Dublin
countryofbirth = Republic of Ireland
height =
dateofdeath = death date and age|1958|2|6|1935|4|1|df=y
cityofdeath = Munich
countryofdeath = Germany
position = Inside forward
currentclub =
clubnumber =
youthyears =
youthclubs = Home Farm
years = 1953-1958
clubs = Manchester United
caps(goals) = 79 (43)
nationalyears =
nationalteam = Ireland
nationalcaps(goals) = 04 0(0)

William Augustine "Liam" Whelan (1 April 1935 – 6 February 1958), also known as Billy Whelan, was an Irish footballer and one of the eight Manchester United players who were killed in the Munich air disaster. He was 22 years old when he died.

Whelan was a devout Roman Catholic who came from a large family; his father John had died in 1943, when Whelan was eight years old. Just before the aeroplane crashed at Munich, he was heard to say: "If this is the end, then I'm ready for it".

Whelan began his career with Home Farm before joining Manchester United.

He made 98 first-team appearances between August 1955 and February 1958, scoring 52 goals. He had previously played for Irish club Home Farm, and was a regular in the Republic of Ireland national team.

On 8 December 2006 the railway bridge on Faussagh Road/Dowth Avenue junction in Cabra, Dublin 7 close to Dalymount Park was renamed in his honour. The campaign to have the bridge renamed was initiated and organised by members of the Cabra, GAA club, Naomh Fionbarra (gaelic spelling) (St. Finbarr's) and sanctioned by Dublin City Council in early 2006. It is close to St. Attracta Road, the street in which he was born. The unveiling ceremony was performed by Whelan's Manchester United team mate at the time of the aircrash, Sir Bobby Charlton.

On 4 February 2008, the Irish national postal body An Post issued a 55c postage stamp for the 50th anniversary of the Munich Air Disaster showing a photo of Liam Whelan. [cite web | title = Irish Stamps Collectors News 1/08 | work = | publisher = An Post | date = | url = http://www.irishstamps.ie/IrishStamps/downloads/CollectorsNewsIssue21.pdf | format = pdf | accessdate = 2008-02-04 ]

References